One of Dickens's most prominent themes he uses throughout A Tale of Two Cities is the idea of Resurrection. Dickens "resurrects" many of his characters throughout the novel. For example, Dr. Manette starts off with "haggard eyes" (29) and appears "hopeless" (29). His time in the Bastille has caused him to lose his identity, but Dickens slowly transforms Manette back to his professional state of mind. By the end of the novel, Manette has a "bold smile" (202) and is seen with "strength and power" (210). Dickens fully brings Manette back to life by giving him his previous professional state of mind. Another one of Dickens's "resurrections" is Sydney Carton. When Carton is first introduced, he has nothing to live for (except for Lucie, but that's another theme...), and he chooses to waste his life away in alcohol. He is a "drunk" (63) without hope. Much like Manette, by the end of A Tale of Two Cities, Carton becomes a brave and courageous gentleman. Carton has made a complete transformation into a hopeful man, and he is described with "inspiration in the eyes" (231) as he walks through the streets of crumbling France. Instead of continuing his waste of a lifestyle, Carton becomes a helpful gentleman to everyone he comes in contact with. Dickens also calls Carton "the Resurrection and the Life" (292). He chooses to describe Carton in this manner to compare him to Jesus, and he causes Carton to become like an angelic figure. Dickens starts off many of his characters without hope and full of despair, but by the end of his book, Dickens transforms those same people to act as though they have found a purpose in their lives and are full of inspiration.
This is a picture of how Mr. Carton may have appeared right before his death. There is a video of Mr. Carton walking down the streets of France before his execution in our archives. By this time, he has become a new man ready to take on any challenge!!!...and he does it with a little bit of sass!
Resurrection
One of Dickens's most prominent themes he uses throughout A Tale of Two Cities is the idea of Resurrection. Dickens "resurrects" many of his characters throughout the novel. For example, Dr. Manette starts off with "haggard eyes" (29) and appears "hopeless" (29). His time in the Bastille has caused him to lose his identity, but Dickens slowly transforms Manette back to his professional state of mind. By the end of the novel, Manette has a "bold smile" (202) and is seen with "strength and power" (210). Dickens fully brings Manette back to life by giving him his previous professional state of mind. Another one of Dickens's "resurrections" is Sydney Carton. When Carton is first introduced, he has nothing to live for (except for Lucie, but that's another theme...), and he chooses to waste his life away in alcohol. He is a "drunk" (63) without hope. Much like Manette, by the end of A Tale of Two Cities, Carton becomes a brave and courageous gentleman. Carton has made a complete transformation into a hopeful man, and he is described with "inspiration in the eyes" (231) as he walks through the streets of crumbling France. Instead of continuing his waste of a lifestyle, Carton becomes a helpful gentleman to everyone he comes in contact with. Dickens also calls Carton "the Resurrection and the Life" (292). He chooses to describe Carton in this manner to compare him to Jesus, and he causes Carton to become like an angelic figure. Dickens starts off many of his characters without hope and full of despair, but by the end of his book, Dickens transforms those same people to act as though they have found a purpose in their lives and are full of inspiration.